Loose leaf binder



Aug. 1l, 1931. P. o. UNGER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 5 Sheets-Sheetl H||H. I. l DIMIHII l M 1 Ix uw Il! w ik uM HMH I1 A. WH" www a S7 0 w'W |Hlu M w .w Hl m Mf o o l I 1 im W I 1 il 1| a ww I QZ i j I yHmm/1ers Aug. 11; 1931.

P. O. UNGER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed sept'. 23, 1929 's sheets-sheet 2 R0 T N w /N 4 rromvs Ys Vir/mss Aug. 1l, 1931. P. o. UNGER LOOS LEAFBINDER Filed Sept.

23. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hmm/v5 Ys Patented Aug. 11, 1931 sT-Aras ranto. uiteen, orsvnaousii, newv Yorin Loc'issJ LEAF Brun-En Application ledSeptember 23, 1929. Serial No. 394,536.

This invention relates to a new and improved loose leaf binder.

Although my invention may be used with c dierent types ot loose leafbinders, it is para ticularly well adapted for use with that type ofbinder in which there is provided a pair ot rear housings hingedlyconnected together and adapted to be moved towards and from l each otherso that the prongs carried by them 13 may be placed in diierentrelations-to permit the removal or insertion of leaves or the transferof leaves from one position in the binder to another position. A p Inbinders of this type, there is usually provided a latch tor holding therear yhousings in the closed position and also it is desirable toprovide a means whereby the rear housings may be releasably held in thedif- M ferent relative positions which they are 59 adapted to assume. v

In binders of this character, it has hitherto been necessary to releasethe latch and hold the same in the released'position until the rearhousings had been moved away from 2D each other toward the next latchingposition. Such an arrangement is inconvenient in use because'itnecessitates the manipulation of the rear housings While at the sametime, the latch is held in the unlatching position.

vide a latch tort-he type of binder herein described which may be placedin the unlatclied position by a single movement of a crankor M othermeans and which will, irrespective of o such crank, remain in theunlatclied position until the housings have been moved to the nextoperative position.` Y

Another object is to provide a latching means which willautoinaticallyreturn to the latched position when the housings have beenmoved to a new operative position.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangementof parts,- all as will more fullyv appear from the followingdescription-taken in connection withl the accompanying dra-wings inwhich n Figure 1- is `a top plan view, partially broken away, ot myimproved binder with 50 the housings in the closed position.

The main obj ect ofmy invention is to pro-V `Figure 2-i's a section online 2 2 of Figure 4. Y

Figure 3 isa section on line`3 3 of Figure' 2.

Figure 4 yis ure l. A Y 1 Figure 5 is a section'on line 5 5 ot Figure 2with the housings in the open position. Y

Figure 6 is a section on line'6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 6 and on line 7 7 ot Figure 5,showing the parts in a dierent relative position.

Figure 8 is a section on line 3 8 of Figurel.

Y Figure 9'is a section kon line 9 9 of Figure 8. p f

For the purpose ot illustratingmy device and its inode of operation, Ihave here shown Va loose leaf binder einbodyingcertain novel features asdisclosed in an application iiled byJohn'L. McMillan filedlOctober 13,1928, Serial No. 312,27 3, although it will be understood that althoughniy invention is particularly well adapted to be used with the type ofbinder there disclosed, it may be used with various types of looseleatbinders in which the rearv housings are adapted to vbe releasablyheldin a plurality of relative positions.

' vThe' loose leaf binder 1 here illustrated comprises a rear, housing2' and an opposed rear housing 3 hingedly 'connected together on theirinner and lowerilongitudinal edges as by a piano hinge 4:. y

O-n housing 3, l provide a plurality, in this case shownas eleven,arcuate prongs 5 rigidly connected thereto.

a 'section on line 4 -4 of Fig- In housing-2, I. provide a plurality,this Y case shown as ten, arcuate prongs 6 normally positioned instaggered relation to prongs 5. Prongs` 6 are pivotally vmounted inhousing 2 as by clips?, secured to the inside of the Y outerlongitudinal wall of housing 2.

1The 'bottomends of prongs 6 extend inwardly towards the innerlongitudinal edgev of housing 2 with their ends extending verticallyinto engagement with slots-8y in a bar 9 which is slidably mounted inhousing -2 so that thelongitudinal movement of bar 9 will IOC cause thepivotal movement of prongs 6 in housing 2.

For the purpose of providing a convenient means for the reciprocation otbar 9, I provide on the upper surface of housing 2, a bell-crank 10which is pivotally mounted on bar 9 as by pivot pin 11, which pivot pin11 extends upwardly through a slot 12 in the top plate 13 of housing 2.

One end of bell-crank 10 is provided with a knob 14 and the other end ofbell-crank 10 is formedV with a U-slot in registration with a headed pin15 iixed in top plate 13 so that if bell-crankv 10 is moved about itspivot 12, the end of bell-crank 10 carrying the U-slot will be heldagainst longitudinal movement with respect to housing 2 with the resultthat bar 9 will be moved longitudinally of housing` 2, the directiondepending upon the direction ot rotation of bell-crank 10.

A cam plate 16 has one end secured in housing 3 and has the other endextending into housing 2 above the upper surface of plate 9 and betweenopposed rolls 17 and 18 carried on plate 9.

The main body of cam plate 16 is approximately the same width as thedistance between rolls 17 and 18 so that when the housings are in theclosed position, plate 9 will be held against longitudinal movement dueto the fact that the main body of cam plate 16 is in position betweenrolls 17 and 18.

When the housings have been moved to the open position in the mannerwhich will be hereinafter described, the narrow cam surfaces carried onthe end of cam plate 16 will be positioned between rolls 17 and 18 andinasmuch as the width of such narrow portion is less than the distancebetween rolls 17 and 18, longitudinal movement of plate 9 may beeffected.

F or the purpose of releasably securing the housings 2 and 3 in theirvarious operative positions in relation to each other, I provide a pairof spaced latches 19 and 20, each having one end pivotally mounted inhousing 3 as on a rod 21 and having` their other ends extending` intohousing 2.

Latch 19 is provided with a plurality, in this case shown as three, ofnotches 22, 23 and 24. VNotches 23 and 24 are provided with one inclinedside for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Lat-ch yis provided with similar 4notches '25, 26 and 27, notches 26 and27 being provided with one inclined side.

Latch 2O carries on the 'edge opposite notches 25, 2,6 and 27, aplurality, in this case shown as three, of spaced laterally extendinglingers 28, 29 and 30, each having inclined sides. n

In housing 2 is slidably mounted a bar 31 provided with slots 32 and 33through which latches-19 and 20 are adapted to move when the bar 31 isin the unlocking position.

Bar 31 is normally urged towards latches 19 and 20 by a spring 34 sothat it may enter the notch 22, 23 or 24 in latch 19 and the notch 25,26 or 27 in latch 20 with which it may be in registration and when inregistration with such notches, the latches 19 and 2O will be locked inposition to prevent any relative movment of housings 2 and 3.

For the purpose of providing a convenient means for retracting bar 31trom registration with latches 19 and 2O to permit the relative movementof housings 2 and 3, I provid-e a bell-crank 35 pivotally mounted inhousing 2 as by pivot pin 36.

I provide on bell-crank 35 a second bellcrank 37 pivotally mountedthereon. The outer end of bell-crank 37 is normally urged outwardly andtowards plate 31 by means of a spring 38 interposed between the innerend oit' bell-crank 37 andone end of bell-crank 35.

The outer end of bell-crank 37 normally extends into a slot 39 in bar 31and in contact with one end of such slot 39.

A spring 40 has one end secured to housing 2 and has the other endsecured to one side of bell-crank 35 to yieldingly hold bell-crank 35 ina position where bell-crank 37 will be in registration with slot 39.

lVhen it is desired to move bar 31 longitudinally to take it out ofregistration with latches 19 and 2O to permit the relative movement ofhousings i2 and 3, bell-crank 35 is moved about its pivot by means of aiingerhold 41which movement of bell-crank 35 will cause the outer end ofbell-crank 37 to be moved towards the end of housing 2 carrying beforeit bar 31. Y

For the purpose of temporarily holding bar 31 in the retracted positionust described irrespective of bell-cranks 35 and 37, I provide in theopposite end, of housing 2 and pivotally mounted therein, anotherbellcrank 42. Bell-crank 42 carries a laterally extending finger 43which is normally in con- Y tact with the inner surtaceo'f bar 31 asperhaps may bestbe seen from Figure 6. y The end of bar 31 is providedwith a shoulder 44. l/Vhen bar 31 is retracted in the manner justdescribed, the shoulder 44 will be moved beyond the end 43 of bell-crank42 and bell-crank 42 will then moveabout its pivot to bring its end 43in registration with shoulder 44 to hold bar 31 in the retractedposition.

YSuch pivotal movement of the bell-crank 42 by the nianipulatio'notbell-crank 35 in the manner ust described -and the end 43 on bellcrank-42 has come linto engagement vwith shoulder 44 on bar 31 to hold thelatter in the retracted position, the housings 2 and 3'niay be movedabout the hinge 4.

As this movement takes place, the latch 2O will move outwardly fromhousing' 2 and during its initial outward movement, the iinger willengage the end 50 on member 48v to move member L8-about its pivot andcause its end 49 to contact With shoulder 47 andvthis, in turn, Willcause bell-crank 42 tov be moved `about its pivot carrying end 43 out ofengagenotch 26.

ment with shoulder 44V and the bar 31 will then, by means of spring 34,bemoved in- Wardlylinto contact With the edge of latch 20.

As latch 20 continues to move outwardly from housing 2, notch 26 willcome into registration With bar 31 and bar' 31 Will, by means of spring34, be moved into notch 26 to vprevent the further outward movement oflatch 2O from housing 2. It it is then desired to move housings 2 and- 3`urther in relation to each other, it-is necessary to again manipulatebell-crank 35 to retract bar .31 from ln Figure 7 I have shown theAparts in the relative position Where bar 31 'has ust been retractedfrom notch 26 andtheenfd 43 of bcll-crank-'42 is 'in registration Withshoulder 44 to hold bar 31 in the retracting position.

l'With the parts in this relative position, it Will be seen that linger29 isjust coming linto contact With end on memberY 48 and a furtheroutward movement otvlatch 20 Jfrom housing 2 will cause linger 29 topress against end 50 on member 48 to move member 48 about its pivot andto cause end 49 on member 48 to press against shoulder 47 and movebell-crank 42 about its pivot' to release its end 43 from shoulder 44 sothat bar 31 Will be spring-pressed into engagement With slot 27 when thesame comes into registration With it. 'Y

,.lVhen the binder is in the lopen position and itis desired toclose thesame, `,it is not necessary to manipulate bell-crank 35 because of thefact that the intermediate an'd outer notches 23 and 24 in latclr19 vandthe' intermediate and outer notches 26 and 27 latch 2O have one oftheirsides inclined with theresult that the movement of housings 2 and 3towardseach other Will cause plate 31 to ride outwardly along theinclined sides of such notches and thismovement will release latches 19and 2O and will permit the binder to close. Y Y

Whenthe binder is in the closed position,

notch 22 in latch V19 and notch 25 in latch V2O Will come inregistration with bar 31 to lock'the parts in that position.

During the closing movement of 2 and 3, fingers 28, 29 .and 30 willsuccessively come into contact With end 50 of member 48, but thesideseof fingers 28, 29 and: 30 being inclined, they Will ride over end50 causing a slighty pivotal movement of member 48 but without aiiectingbell-crank 42 asthe movement of member 48 will be away from suoli .Abell-crank 42.,` Y

It the closing movement of housings 2Vand 3 is initiated at a time whenprongs 6 have been moved aboutl their pivots in the mannerheretoforedescribed, the cam plate 16 will engage one ot' the. rolls 17or 18 to cause the r `p te19 `to be moved to the normalv position as thebinder is closed so tliat'theie can be no possibility of closingthebinder with the prongs 5 inA any but their normal position.

For the purpose of facilitating the open- 1'.

ing movement of housings 2 and 3, I provide what is usually termed abooster comprising. a bell-crank 52 .pivotally mounted in housing-filasbya pivot pin 53.` On the lower end of bell-crank 52 andpivotallymounted thereon, I provide a link 54 adapted to move outwardlythrough a slot 55 in the inn-er side of housing 3 towards and 4intoContact with the inner side of the housing 2. i

When bar 31 has been retracted to the relative movement loit housings 2and 3, the upper end `of bell-crank 52 'is/raised' to cause. bell-crank52 to move about its pivot 53and this movement will carry. `linln54 3vabout their hinge 4.*` i

Forthe purpose of,;protecting theleaves in the binder, I provide onhousing 2a cover 56 liingedly mounted thereon and I .provide on housing3, thereon.

For the purpose and 3- and also-for the purpose ofpermitting the binderto be easily'moved on a'desk or Aagainst housing-2 to force housings 2-land table, I prefer. Vtoprovide in the' lower outer 'v edge of housing2, spaced rollers 58 and 59 and .I alsoprovide inthe lower outer edge othousing 3, a similar pair of spaced rollers 60and61.

. Although I rhave here shown my invention as applied to a particulartype of loose leaf binder, it Will be understood that it is adap'ted tobe used With differenttypes of= binders and although have shown'myinventionas embodied in a particular arrangementfof parts, it will b evunderstood that the size,

shape and precise arrangement of parts may be variedv to a considerableextent Without departing fromthe `spirit of my invention for although Ihave shown and described'a housings permit lafcover 57-hingedly mguntedet protecting housings 2 specific structure and form of part as anexempliication of an embodiment of my invention, l do not desire torestrict myself to the exa-ct size, shape or relation of parts asvarious changes may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

I'claim: f

`1. A loose leaf binder 'comprising rear housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover hinged to each housing, sets of prongs carried on eachhousing, a latch secured to oneV .one housing and extending into theother housing, a bar slidably mounted in the lastnamed housing andadapted to engage a notch in the latch, means for Y retracting the barfrom the notch, means automatically engaging the bar when the same hasbeen moved to the retracted position to hold it in Vsuch position, andmeansactuated by the movement ofthe latch for moving the last-namedmeans out of engagement With the bar.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising rear housings hingedly connectedltogether, a Cover hinged to each housing, sets of prongs carried on thehousings, a latch secured to one housing and extending into the otherhousing, a bar slidably mounted in the last-named housing and adapted toengage a notch in the latch, means for retracting the bar from thenotch, means automatically engaging the bar When the same has been movedto the retracted position to hold it in such position, and meansactuated by the movement of the latch for moving the last-named meansout of engagement with the bar, such means including a pivoted memberadapted to be moved by the latch into engagement with the automaticmeans. l v l 4. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed rear housingshingedly connected together, a

cover hingedly connected to each housing, sets of prongs carried by thehousings, a latch secured to one housing and extending into the otherhousing, means in the latter housing for releasably engaging the latch,means for retracting the latch-engaging means from the latch, abell-crank pivotally mounted in thelast-named housing and spring-pressedtowards the latch-engaging means, a shoulder on the latch-engaging meansadapted to regfor releasably engaging the latch, means for retractingthe latch-engaging means from the latch, a bell-crank pivotally mountedin the last-named housing and spring-pressed to- Wards thelatch-engaging means, a shoulder on the latch-engaging means adapted toregister With one arm of the bell-crank When the latch-engaging means isin the disengaged position, and means actuated by the movement of thelatch to pivot the bell-crank to move the same out of engagement Withthe latch-engaging means, such means including a pivoted member adaptedto be moved into contact with one arm of the bell-crank.

6. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed housings hingedly connectedtogether, a ycover hingedly connected to each housing, sets of prongscarried on the housings, a latch secured to one housingand extendinginto the other housing, a bar slidably mounted in the last-named housingand adapted to engage the latch, means for retracting the bar fromengagement With the latch, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in thelast-named housing and 'spring-pressed towards the bar, a shoulder onthe bar adapted to engage the bell-crank when the bar is moved to thedisengaged position, and means actuated bythe movement of the latch formoving the bell-crank about its pivot and out of engagement With theshoulder onvthe bar.

7. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover hingedly connected to each housing, sets of prongscarried on the housings, a latch secured to one housing and extendinginto the other housing, a bar slidably mounted, in the last-namedhousing and adapted to engage the latch, means for retractng the barfrom engagement with the latch, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in thelast-named housing and spring-pressed towards' the bar, a shoulder on,the bar adapted to engage the bellcrank when the bar is moved to thedisenf gaged posit-ion, and means actuated by the movement of the latchfor moving the bellcrank about its pivot and out of engagement With theshoulder on the bar, such means including a pivoted member adapted to bemoved Vinto contact With one arm of the bellcrank to move the latterabout its pivot.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising rear housings hingedly connectedtogether, 1a

cover hinged to each housing, a set of prongs carried on each housing, alatch securedto one housing and extending into the other housing, meansin the latter housing torres leasably engaging the latch, means forInoving such engaging means out of engagement with the latch, meansautomatically engaging such latch-engaging means when the samev notch inthe latch, means for retracting the bar from the notch, meansautomaticlly engaging the barwhen the same has been moved to theretracted position to hold it msuch position, means actuated by themovement of the latch for moving the lastsnamedlmeans out of engagementwith the bar, and meansy for moving the bar into'engagement with anotch.

10. A loose leaf binder comprising rear housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover hinged to each housing, sets of prongs carried on thehousings, a latch secured to one housing and extending into the otherhousing, aA bar slidably mounted in the lastnained housing and adaptedto engage a notch in the latch, means for retracting the bar from thenotch, means automatically engaging the bar when the saine has beenmoved to the retracted position to hold it in such position, meansactuated by the movement of the latch' for moving the last-named meansout of engagement with the bar, such means including a pivoted memberadapted to be moved by the latch into engagement with the automaticmeans, and means for moving the bar into engagement with a notch. l

11.A A loose leaf binder comprising opposedv reai housings hingedlyconnected together, a cover hingedly kconnected to each housing,- setsof prongs vcarried by the housings, a latch secured to one housing andextending into the other housing, means in the latter housing forreleasably engaging the latch, means for retraoting the latch-engagingmeans from the latch, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in the last-named:housing and spi'ingpressed towards the latch-engaging means, a shoulderon the latch-engaging means adapted to register with on arm of thebell-crank when Athe latch-engaging means is in the disengaged position,means actuated by the movementof the latch t0 pivot the vbell-crankv tomove the same out of engagement withl the latch-engaging means, andmeans for moving the latch-engaging means to the engaging position.

l2. A' loose lear` binder comprising opposed rear housings hingedlyconnected together, a cover hingedly connected to each housing, setsotprongs'carried by the housings, a latch secured toone housing andext-ending into the other housing, means in the latter housing forreleasably` engaging the latch, meansA for retracting the latch-engagingmeans from the latch, a bell-crank pivotally mounted in the last-namedhousing .and spring-pressed towards the latch-engaging means, a shoulderon the latch-engaging means adapted to register with one arm of thebell-crank when the latch-engaging means is in the disengaged position,means actuated by the movement of the latch to pivot the bell-crank to4move the same out of .engagement with the latch-engaging means, suchmeans including ra pivoted member adapted to be 'moved into contact withone arm of they bell-crank, and means for moving the latch-engagingvmeans to the engaging position. c

13. A loose leaf binder comprising opposedk housings hingedly` connectedtogether, a cover hingedly connected to each housing, sets of prongscarriedon the housings, a latch having a plurality of notches secured toone housing and extending into the other housl ing, a bar slidablymounted inthe last-named f housing and adapted to engage the latch,means for retracting the bar Jfrom engagement with the latch,4 albell-crank pivotally mounted in the last named housing and springpressedtowards the bar, a shoulder on the bar adapted to-engage the bell-crankwhen the bar is moved to the disengaged position, means actuated by themovement ofthe latch for moving the bell-crank about itsV pivot and 'outof engagement with the shoulder on the bar, Yand mea-ns for moving thebar int-o engagement with ak notch in the latch.

la.l A loosefleav binder `comprising opposed housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover hingedly connected to each housing, sets of prongscarried on the housings, a latch having a plurality of notches securedto one housing and extending into the other` housing, a barslidably'mounted in the last-named housing land adapted to engage thelatch, means forzretracting the bar from engagement'with the latch, abell-crank pivotally mounted in the last named housing and'spring-,pressed'towards the bar, a shoulder on the bar adapted toYengage the bell-crank when the bar is moved tothe disengaged posit-ion,Vmeans actuated bythe movementof the latch for moving the bell-crankabout its pivot and yout otl engagement with the shoulder on therbar,such means including `a pivoted vmember adapted to be moved into contactWith one arm of the bell-crank to move the latter about its pivot, andmeans for moving` the bar into engagement With Va notch in the latch.

15.A loo-se leaf binder comprising opposed rear housings hingedlyconnected together, a cover hinged to each housing, sets of prongscarried on the housings, a latch having one end secured toa housingandthe y c-ther extending into th-e other housing, means in the last-namedhousing for engaging the latch, means for moving the latch-engagingmeans out of engagement With the latch, means. for retaining the llatch-engaging means in the disengagedposition, and means actuated bythe movement ofthe latch for releasing the retaining means from thelatchengaging means.

16. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed rearhousings hingedlyconnected together, a cover hingedto each housing, sets of prongscarried on the housings, a latch having one end .secured to a housingand the other eX- tending into the other housing, means in thelast-named housing for engaging the latch,

means for moving the latch-engaging means out of engagement with thelatch, means for retaining theilatch-engaging -means in thev thelast-named housing for engaging the latch, means for moving thelatch-engaging means out ofv engagement With the latch to permit therelative movement of the housings about the axis of their hinge, meansfor retaining the latch-engaging means in the disengaged position, and.means actuated by the movement of the housings for releasing theretaining means from the latch-engaging means.

18. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed rear housings hingedlyconnected together, a cover hinged to each housing, sets of prongscarried by the housings,a latch having one end secured to one housingand the other end extending into the other housing, means in thelast-named housing` for engaging the latch, means. for moving thelatch-engaging means out of engagement with the latch to permit therelative movement of the housings about the axis of their hinge,.meansfor retaining the latch-engaging means in the disengaged position, meansactuated by the movement of the housings for releasing the retainingmeans o from the latch-engaging means, and means for moving thelatch-engaging means to the engaging position.

19. A loose leaf binder comprising rear housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover secured to each housing, sets of prongs carried oneach housing, a latch for holding the housings in a selected one of aplurality of relative positions secured to one of the housings, means onthe other housing for releasably engaging the latch, means for movingsuch engaging means out of engagement With the latch, meansautomatically engaging such latch-engaging means When the same is movedto the disengaged position to hold it in such position, and meansactuated by the movement of the latch for moving the last-named meansout of engagement With the latch-engaging means.

20. A loose leaf binder comprising rear housings hingedly connectedtogether, a cover secured to each housing, sets of prongs carried oneach housing, a latch for holding the housings in a selected one of aplurality kof relative positions secured to one of the housings, meanson the other housing for releasably engaging the latch in each of saidpositions, means for moving such engaging means out'of engagement withthe latch, and means automaticallyengaging such latchengaging means Whenthe same ismoved to the disengaged position to hold it in such position.n

21.-A loose leaf binder comprising opposed back members connectedtogether for relative movement, a. latch secured to one back member,means on the other back member releasably engaging the latch, means fordisengaging the last-mentioned means, automatic means for holding thelatchl engaging means in the disengaged position, and means actuated bythe relative movement of the back members for moving the automatic meansfrom the holding position.

22. A loose leaf binder comprising opposed housings connected togetherfor relativev movement, a set of prongs carried on each housing, a latchsecured toL one housing and adapted to hold the housings in a selectedone of a plurality of relative positions, means on the other housing forreleasably engaging the latch in each of said positions, means forreleasing said latch engaging means, automatic means for holding saidlatch engaging means in the lreleasing position, and means actuated bythe relative movement of the housings for moving the automatic meansfrom the holding position.

23. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of back members, a connection betweensaid back members permitting relative movement of the members, a latchon one back member, means on the other member adapted to engage thelatch, manually operated means for moving the latch-engaging means tolatchreleasing v position, additional means for maintaining thelatch-engaging means in latch-releasing position, and means actuated bythe relative movement of said back members for releasing said additionalmeans.

24. A loose leaf binder comprising back members connected for relativemovement, a cover hinged to each back member, a. set of prongs carriedon each back member, a latch secured to one back member, a bar slidablymounted on the other back member and adapted to engage the latch, meansfor moving the bar out of engagement with the latch, means automaticallyengaging the bar when the same has been moved out of engagement With thelatch to hold it in such disengaged position, and means actuated by therelative movement of the back member for moving the last-named means outof engagement with the bar, such means including a pivoted memberadapted to be moved into engagement with the automatic means.

1n Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofSeptember, 1929.

PAUL O. UNGER.

